New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-14
ALMOSrREADYFOR THEJURY
FINAL TESTIMONY IN THE OIL CASE.
STILL THAT LEAKED PETROLEUM INTO THE FIRE
AN OLD WAR PRISONER TURNING THE TABLES

BUFFALO, May 13 (SpeciaD The oil conspiracy
trla Is nearly at an end and should the lawyers not
be TOO vouble to morrow the may go the jury
IN the evening. The defence is practically finished
ana the prosecution has little ammuntion Tor the final
attack on the Standard Oil Company which is trial
according to the theory OF the prosecution Although
hessrs Archibald, Rogers and McGregor, the only de-
fsndants connected with the Standard Company we're
acquitted early in the trial. the questions put by the
Dlstrlct-Attorney frequently tend to draw III the
Standard.
The Evcrests we're not in court today and the
other OIL men are not much worried about the result
Ihe evidence to-day was directed toward impeaching
Mr.. Matthe rs and showing that he was scared
than hurt by what the witness Miller did. More evi
dence was given relating to the attempted sale of the
| Buhaio works to the Standard.
thompson McGowar, a manufacturing oil man of
Cleveland, testified regarding the explosiveness of
Petroleum vapors. He declared that safety valves
we're made to blow on. He did not consider that
plaster OF paris applied to the safety valve was
dangerous. 1t not used to Cement pieces of iron
together, and not adhesive applied to iron On
cross-examination he said that gallon of water
was frequently held in suspension in 100 gallons of
petroleum The gases and yapUrs thrown of were all
iniamn ible and explosive under proper conditions.
Mr. Qunby questioned Mr. McGowan closely about
the manufacture OF petroleum.
oIfony petroleum vapors from the sl and
% scaad % me es what wonl you expect A-he hre
the safety supply vapor coasod
Sd ibd nsre was considerable quantity OF the settled vspor
which might be called explosion. Any vapor
would DO burned.
William H. Patterson testified that he was superntend-
ent Of the Vacuum Oil Works at Rochester for whom he
went TO work In 1878; stillman under Miller in
1881. He produced safety-vave which was exhibited
to the jury Is like those in in the Vacuum works
then and now Miller applied waterlime plaster OF
paris as packing for the ssfeyvalye. This done
keep the vapOrs from leaking This prevails
at the Vacuum works The packing would break IL the
valve the still would have be shut down and the
packing would have to be replaced. Plaster gen.
| orally used
Il would be TO carry the process OF dis
sT @ af yoS 5 SsPE Tie s or Vacuum Com
r SS e ss on S SOPe aGs 2 any amount OF money
oph he ask to leave The Vacuum and go to Buffalo
oupo9 your declining to 60 did he at that time say to
vim S G T and nT o Ts s S al the SsP place. o
and then see how You can makeit go"f Ale did
| on cross-eKamination Patterson was asked:
Q.-were you convicted OF crimei A.-when wasa
boy was Ia the House OF Reuge for one and half years
Prison '' ~" '''' ." p''''" % ~ -''''
August Gabel, d Vacuum empoye. was examined
about a conversation zIth Miller. About the time
that Miller lett the Vacuum he requested Gabel to
leave the Vacuum and go to work for the Buffalo con-
William E. Golfer of Phi!adelp pha who has been an
oil manufacturer for ninsteeD years. gave some im-
Dortant testimony regarding the explosveness OF
vapors. His present works have been running only
short time and he is a competitor OF the Standard Oil
Company. lie testified that he had one or more
petroleum stills running without safety valves and he
has still running without one at present Asked II
he had escaping vapOrs catch fire az still,
he replied Yes. sir. There was simply q hash
which led Up to the safety valve and burned there
until IT smothered. the supply of gas stopped"
he knew Of still which leaked petroleum iuto the
furnacs during entire of OIL and the still did
not explode. This Lawyer Bacon claimed was more
dangerous than tho other condition OF things. The
witncss said !:
The leak simply burned penetrating the sur
pul All crude has PARTICLES OF water held in suspen
Q-s ubrlcatng OIL which made OF the residuum likely
TO be injured early In the run by hot rei ANo sir only
finally from nftccn twenty-five cent accord
pToce.. rs.oTsd 70 ior ne o, keeping
petroleum irom scorchng when there is an Intense fire A
Injecting small quantity OF steam into the In the
QIIave you under still during distlla-
In f,c almost dstilation In my expert
aid yGa r,t make the acquaintance OF Charles b.
Q-In MAY. 1857 I'D ho call to you at your house in
o-DiS he ino YOU expected the standard people
oIn question rom you as to whom he w.
aS9t @1sW.ier tS Or asi siih T him ami nj oe.
Ing s and and espeens So standard to buy them out
standard day for buying out reaneres past" Ayes
Q-wha, did he say in repyl Ale said "l intend that
thcy shall buy oat. OF sll make n hot Tor them
dd be @ you & I? aa @s ~ the 1%aaS Taa 5
il YOU could make COOL thing out Of It. Ayes, sir
Mr. Coltor said on cross-examinaton that he sold
the oil works he owned at Freedom, Penn. to John ID.
Archbod, but he had interest in any shape with
tho Standard Oil Company An effort to show that
he had received = salary OF $1,000 year TOR dong
nothing Unsuccessful. He came here Voluntarily
to testify Regarding the flash. he said that ho was
by but did not away, tor there was neither
time nor necessity He drst kne of the By read
ing It in THE w-YoRK TRIBUNE. He said three
fires had happened in works controlled by him. In
one case the n ght watchman took lighted lantern
INTO house which was full OF intammable gases and
nre was caused in which the burned to death
The other fires wero caused BIZ carelcssness. The
Vacuum Company had once sued him on patent, bui
the litigation dropped on an agreement not TO
prosecute him for back inlringements. There was no
colIuson between himself and the Standard Oil Com
pany.
joseph p Dudley manager of the Star Oil Com
pany was called to contradict the prosecutions evil
dence regarding the price OF Illuminating OILS IN
Buffalo IN 1881. It was 81 20 to $3 per barrel for
refined oil. The luctuaton was slight These were
retail grocers prices The 100 degree oil was sold Tor
10 cents gallon. He knew nothing about iubricdtIns
oil ~
Mrs. Charlotte b. Wilson, wife of tho Wilson who
lett the Vacuum form the Buffalo Company, testi-
fed that she heard Matthews tell her husband that he
expected to sell out to the standard OIL Company ana
that they must make good showing to accomplish
that object.
Mr. Matthews was recalled several tines. He
denied the conversation with Mr. Golfer Inc oun"o
Company's books were produced and evidence given |
ab,ut the nav rolls Then counsel for the defence
annou need that they were through, except tor ie"
small m9tters that could be quickly disposed ot to-
morrow.
UNDERWRITING IMPORTED STEEL BLOOMS.
PITTsBuRG May 13 (Speeiab.-The United States Treas
ury Department has ordered an Investigation at this
point OF the charges hero have been underyalua
tlons OF imported manufactures. Special Agent T. H.
Lapp. in company with special detective mas visited
number of iron and manufacturers Steel blooms
aud bets specially affected The cost here oi inc
imported article Is S3l 40 ton yet 1t cannot De pro-
duced In Pttsburg less than S3L 1t Is said that the